Marisawright

I have thought of some other "English Village" type places in Sydney:

 

Kurrajong Heights

Richmond

Wisemans Ferry

St Albans

Spencer

..

 

The OP gave some examples from the UK of the kind of place he was looking for: they were Canterbury, Kingston and Sevenoaks. And when I suggested Oatley (which is 40 minutes by train from the CBD) he rejected it as being too long a commute.

 

So if any of those places are of interest to the OP, he's changed his criteria a huge amount!

What is the basis of your opinion of Sydney? Let's have proper arguments. I'm not a millionaire but I love it and would not live anywhere else.

 

Yes, but you bought your flat when it was affordable. One of the reasons we left Sydney is that, much though I love the city, we simply can't afford a nice home there unless we work till we're 70.

 

I pity anyone arriving now - the rents are so high that saving up for one's own home must be well-nigh impossible.

 

Of course when you're young and not worried about saving for the future, then that's not uppermost in your mind, you just enjoy the place.

 

1) How common are separate cycling tracks in Sydney? Are they all over the city or only in few selected locations?

 

2) How much would a 1 bed room, living room and kitchen flat cost in Parramatta roughly on rent per week? We're getting a small home for like AUD$280 per week, is this reasonable?

 

Separate cycling tracks are quite rare, Sydney is not generally a good city to cycle in.

 

$280 per week for a small home in Parramatta is very cheap. I would expect to pay $400 per week for anything of acceptable quality.

 

You can research prices on domain.com.au

http://www.domain.com.au/search/rent/property/types/apartment-unit-flat/block-of-units/new-apartments-off-the-plan/studio/state/nsw/area/parramatta/region/sydney-region/suburb/parramatta/?bedrooms=%3E1&searchterm=parramatta

I am not justifying anything.

 

It's the self righteous vitriole directed at only one species which I object to.

 

If it is selfish to keep a cat because they destroy wildlife, why is it not also also selfish to keep a dog or produce yet another human being?

 

 

 

It's a great pity that one or two people on this thread are making stupid remarks about killing cats. Most other people are upset about the owners, not the cats.

 

 

- If a person is not willing to take responsibility for a child and both keep them safe and prevent them hurting others, they should not be having babies;

 

- If a person is not willing to take responsibility for a dog, and both keep them safe and prevent them hurting others, they should not own a dog;

 

- If a person is not willing to drive responsibly with consideration for both humans and animals, they should not own a car;

 

-If a person is not willing to take responsibility for a cat, and both keep them safe and prevent them hurting others, they should not own a cat.

 

The reason cats get "picked on" in this context is that most people are aware they should be responsible parents, and drive carefully, and we're always hearing about dogs biting people - but a depressing number of cat owners are either unaware of the damage cats can do, or are in denial. Therefore the matter needs to be discussed so cat owners get the message.

Saying bisto (or gravy) isn't essential to me is like saying salt isn't essential. I cannot live without gravy.

 

I think I might've said that at one time, but when I arrived in Oz 30 years ago, it wasn't an option. So I had to learn to cook without it. I think my cooking improved as a result because I wasn't relying on gravy to give flavour.

Bisto is essential. When we moved to Canada were tried anything we could to get it (instant, regular was available). Fortunately it's sold here now. But once I'm in Australia I will have to find a source of it, or something comparable.

 

Bisto is not essential! It's essential to how you cook now, but you're going to a different country with different cuisine. Try cooking more like the locals

 

I am working in Chatswood. I live on the Northern Beaches. My entire trip to work from house front door to work desk, normally takes me 40 mins.

 

 

I agree, if you're working in Chatswood then it's a good place to be.

Just answering the OP's question

 

You can get it here in the International aisle of Coles (its called Whole Wheat Biscuits) but a pack is $8.95 so bringing some will save some money

 

But if it's illegal to put it in the container, shouldn't you consider that?

Hi, does anyone one know what happens to the age pension if you move back to the UK. I understand that if you are already age pension age and receiving it before you leave that it is still payable in the UK, but does it remain at the same rate? is it reduced if your UK pension increases?

 

Firstly, it depends how long you lived in Australia.

 

To get the full Australian pension in Australia, you only need 10 years' residency. To get the full Australian pension overseas, you need at least 25 years' residency (it was supposed to go up to 35 years but I'm not sure if that's happened yet). So if you were in Australia for less time than that, your pension will reduce when you leave the country.

 

Secondly, I'm sure you know the Australian pension is means-tested - so yes, if your UK pension goes up, then your Australian pension will be reduced accordingly.

 

The (only?) good news is that it's not frozen like the British pension.

 

Here are the maximum rates etc:

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/outside-australia-pension-rates-payable#a3

Hi. I spoke to my Super provider today and they said that, as an Australian citizen, I can keep my Oz super account when I return to UK and I have two options (once I reach retirement age). Take a lump sum or convert to their pension account which would pay a monthly amount. HOWEVER, they would only pay into an Oz bank account.

Also, interesting post saying that life insurance should be cancelled! I hadn't thought of that so thanks for the tip.

@GFinOZ - I missed this post. Just be aware that if you take the lump sum while you're resident in the UK, you could be absolutely hammered for tax (whereas if you were resident in Australia, it would be tax-free). So if you're leaving Australia before you reach retirement age, you'd be mad to take that option - better to convert it to a pension.

Royal Mail will redirect your mail to your Australian address, but which address? No point in redirecting to your temp accommodation and you won't know your permanent address for several weeks. So I'd say the best option (which is also much cheaper!) is to arrange a redirection to your parents' house and ask them to post things on (not individually, ask them to collect everything up and send it on, say, once a month).

 

As soon as you've got a permanent address in Australia, notify everyone you can think of, including your bank.

 

BTW you're doing the right thing keeping your UK bank account. Unless it's going to cost you too much, I'd keep your UK credit card too, as long as you can. You never know when they will come in handy (if nothing else, they're very handy when you go back on holiday).

I agree about the citizenship. I'm sure it's not what you want to hear as it will delay your move to Oz - but honestly, taking the risk is not worth it. She will lose her right to remain, so if you ever want to come back to the UK, you'll have to apply for a spouse visa for her (assuming you have British citizenship).

 

The trend for all governments is getting that visa harder and more expensive every year. Who knows what it might cost or what hurdles you'd face in ten or fifteen years, if you wanted to come back.

Weetabix, Weetbix is terrible

 

I don't like either - but really, what's the point of bringing some? If you're emigrating with the intention of making a new life, then you've got years ahead of you - and whatever supply you bring, it will run out in just a few months. Then you'll have to start eating Australian food anyway, so you may as well get used to it from the start.

 

I do think that moving to a foreign country and then trying to live as if you're still in the UK is a recipe for unhappiness.

 

Anyway, surely importing food is illegal?

You are comparing medical care to the railways ?

 

Not at all, and nor should the government.

 

Privatising parts of a government service is basically outsourcing. I've been on both sides of outsourcing in several corporations and one government organisation and I have never seen it benefit the customer in any way, shape or form.

 

In the majority of cases, the level of customer service plummets - but the outsourcing companies find cunning ways to cover this up, e.g. by changing KPI's or other measures used to judge success, or by outright falsifying/concealing statistics. Usually the government dept or company doesn't inquire too closely, because (a) it would be too much trouble to bring the service back in-house, (b) the budget is king, and the outsourcers are promising to save them money and © they don't really care if the customers complain, because they can blame it all on the outsourcer.

 

The reason this happens is that the outsourcers win the business by quoting a price that's less than the cost of the current in-house service. The bulk of the in-house cost is just wages - but the outsourcer has to somehow pay wages and make a profit as well. So when the outsourcer takes over, the first thing they do is slash staff to improve their profit margin. Alternatively, they don't take on the existing staff but replace them with cheaper, lower-skilled workers. Or they may take on the existing staff at much less favourable work contracts.

 

So now the outsourcer either has not enough staff to do the job, or less competent staff who don't know the job or the company, or disgruntled existing staff who are now being paid peanuts. The next step is to streamline the work processes so those staff can manage the workload - but most of the time, that doesn't happen. Instead, the outsourcer examines the contract with a fine tooth-comb and makes sure the staff refuse to do the slightest thing that's not actually in the contract.

 

The outsourcer's aim is to make a profit, like any business, but the margins in the outsourcing business are very tight. They all know that once a service is outsourced, it's very unlikely to be brought in-house again unless they make a complete disaster of it, so their goal is to provide the minimum service they can get away with, to squeeze the maximum profit out of the contract. Managers within the outsourcing companies spend a lot of their time creating reports to prove how efficient they are, while glossing over how poor the service is to their customers.

 

Like I said, I have seen this happen several times and the pattern is always the same. You may wonder why companies still do it when it's such a mess - but the bottom line is, senior management in companies and governments don't care about the customer any more. They just care about the bottom line.

I dare say all of those are available in Southampton and most definitely in the South of England.

 

The point is you were saying it's one thing you love about the UK, implying a comparison with Australia. I'm sure I could find all those cuisines here if I looked hard enough, but in Sydney they're everywhere.

Could well have been.

So long ago now; that I don't remember the precise details.

 

But I do remember that it worked magnificently.

A lady staff member in a health food shop in Far North Queensland randomly told me about it, when I went in seeking a natural spray alternative to the horrendous chemical Deet.

 

I discovered it exactly the same way, from a chemist in Darwin. Definitely vitamin B1, no question, I researched it later too.

 

Personally I would recommend Narrabeen, Warriewood or Mona Vale on the Northern Beaches ...

 

It is not that close to the CBD. But it is close enough to commute either via bus via Neutral Bay, or driving a car via the Wakehurst Parkway.

 

The only thing to be aware of is that the commute can be very slow - because there's no train line, there's nothing to take traffic away from the roads so it can be chocka block in rush hour.

Thanks everyone, I'm so glad it's not just me. I wondered if I may get called selfish for not wanting then at the airport. I just thought spend a few days with them before, then drive down to heathrow (which I know will be very emotional drive) but then go to hotel and try and compose myself again!

 

Ok. Now it's how to tell them! Hmm, they've really shocked me with saying this :-(

 

You could be honest and say you'll be too upset. At least then they know you're feeling as distressed about it as they are.

That's not to say some sections aren't being privatised but in no way is it being dismantled.

 

...and we all know how great the railways are since they were privatised.

I can tell you why Australian native ingredients aren't widely used. They don't taste particularly good!

 

I've tried a couple of restaurants which use native ingredients. I can't remember the name but one of them was in Adelaide when I was there for a posh function, it was a very swanky restaurant. I didn't like any of the flavours, and I'm usually willing to try anything.

We're way up North and even we've got Thai &Lebanese! Please tell me you are not struggling to find an Italian restaurant down south? That cannot possibly be true.....??

 

I'm not saying they don't exist, but I've only seen a couple of Thais and one Lebanese. There is a Bella Italia...

Hate them. Dreadful things. We get them on Summer evenings here so I don't go out without the aeroguard on. I find bushman's a bit too toxic for me though do use it overseas where you might get some awful disease. Goldfish like to eat the larva and we found that having a pond with fish in helped keep them away- sounds daft but it worked for us.

 

Unfortunately you can get "some awful disease" from them in Australia too. Dengue fever has been up in the Northern Territory for a long time now and is travelling south. Ross River Fever is as far south as Sydney now. So pack the Vitamin B1 if you're doing any touring (that stops them biting).

Also when I was traveling I took a Vitamin B6 or B12 (I think) well it was one of the Vitamin B's anyway.

 

Took daily for six months in Darwin, Malaysia and those sort of humid tropical areas.

 

And never even got buzzed or bitten by mozzies. Coils, zappers and netting were never required.

 

It must have been Vitamin B1. It can be a bit harder to find than the other B vitamins (unless you're up in Darwin, all the chemists have it there!). The other B vitamins don't have the same effect.

The mix of cultures and the food it brings with it.

.

 

You've commented that you sometimes think I'm living in a different UK from you.

 

You were definitely living in a different Australia from me. It's the mix of cuisines that I'm missing so much here: in Sydney I would eat Vietnamese, Thai, Indian, Balkan, Italian, Greek, Lebanese,Turkish and fusion all the time. In the South of England it seems to be largely a choice between traditional English or Indian/Pakistani. I have managed to spot a couple of Thais but they're rare.

I love being able to go out for energetic walks without ending up in a puddle of sweat.

 

I love seeing my oh enjoying the outdoors again instead of hiding indoors from the sun. It's nice to see his actual skin again instead of scabs and redness (sun allergy).

 

That's about the sum total.